BC Rosé 2015: An Exceptional Year for Value

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I have really enjoyed drinking the local Rosés this summer.  There is such a wide variety of sparkling and still BC Rosés to suit even the most discerning palate.  The good news for the local wineries is that most of the small guys will sell out of the 2015 vintage before the end of summer. I would expect most wineries to be increasing their Rosé production in 2016.

Here are a few of the wines I had the opportunity to try this summer.

The Wines Tasted

Ex Nihilo Vineyards sX Tous Pinot Noir Sparkling Rosé 2015 ($26).  14% Alcohol, 5.3 g/L acidity and 2.4 g/L residual sugar. What strikes you first with this bubbly is the lovely hint of orange colouration. This is a beautifully balanced brut sparkler featuring strawberry, peach, rhubarb and cranberry on the palate.  Made with theSaignée method, which is capable of producing some of the longest lasting Rosé wines. It is actually a by-product of red winemaking. During the fermentation of a red wine about 10% of the juice is bled off. This process leaves a higher ratio of skin contact on the remaining juice, making the resulting red wine richer and bolder. The leftover bled wine or “Saignée” is then fermented into Rosé. Wines made from the Saignée method are typically much darker than maceration method wines and also much more savoury.

Volcanic Hill Rosé  2015 ($17.49)–Alcohol12.6%. Made from Gamay Noir, light ruby red in colour and bursting with aromas of strawberry, cherry, pink grapefruit, floral with hints of spice. The palate is a juicy blend of strawberry and cherry, with ripe cranberry, pomegranate and spice that linger on the finish. The fruitiness of the palate is well balanced with a vibrant lime acidity. This off-dry Rose is bright and clean and has Super, Sexy, with Summer Sipper written all over it. Serve at 10-14 C.

Meyer Family Rosé  2015($20) Alcohol: 14.2% pH: 3.8 Acidity: 5.2 This is a deeply coloured, Pinot Noir-based (Pinot Noir (95%), Merlot (5%)) rosé with strawberries and spice on the palate. The rich and creamy textured mouth feel is balanced out by bright acidity and minerality.

Kismet  Estate Winery Infinite Rośe 2015 ($16) is made from eight varietals –  Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Mourvedre and Grenache. This blend is slightly herbaceous on the nose, with aromas of dried fruit and berries. The wine is extremely weighty and bold with a hint of tannin for balance.

Monte Creek Ranch Rosé 2015 ($17) 100% Marquette. This red wine grape is a new world creation that ripens early and is well suited to cooler climates. These small berries with pink pulp provide a nice skin-to-juice ratio and a pretty colour, ideal for a crisp and fresh Rosé. It smells like strawberry, rhubarb, cherry and caramelised sugar. The palate is off-dry with a medium body.

Lunessence Rosé 2015 . 250 cases produced. SOLD OUT. 30% Pinot Noir from Naramata was harvested early on 2/9/2015 to retain acidity. 70% Cabernet Franc was harvested on 20/10/2015 from a wild Vineyard in Osoyoos. Maceration for each was 3 days. After natural fermentation, the wine was aged on lees for 35 days and then another four months in stainless steel. On the palate, there are refreshing flavours of strawberry and cherry. The finish is dry to this “bigger” than average rosé . 22 g/L residual sugar.

Quidni Sparkling Rosé 2015 ($21)  All the grapes were sourced from the Naramata Bench. Predominantly Pinot Noir with small batches of Gamay Noir and Pinot Meunier.  This wine is intensely aromatic with ripe raspberry being the front contender. It’s well balanced on the palate with a long lingering cherry finish.  Enjoy with friends and lots of sunshine.

Make sure you try some of these great Rosés before they are sold out!